russia carries out an airstrike near the western ukrainian city of lviv. smoke was seen rising from an aircraft maintenance plant — no—one was hurt. but lviv�*s governor condemns the strike. translation: the enemy's strike against lviv is further proof - that it doesn't fight ukrainian troops, it fights its people — children, women, refugees. nothing is sacred for them. ukrainian officials say 130 people have been rescued from the rubble of a bombed theatre in mariupol. hundreds are said to still be trapped inside. but more than 1,000 are said to still be trapped inside. us presidentjoe biden

is speaking to his chinese counterpart this lunchtime — the first call between the leaders since the start of the conflict. more than two million people have now crossed from ukraine into neighbouring poland — we report on how children are being looked after. also on the programme this lunchtime: protests in dover and other cities around the country, after p&0 ferries sacked 800 staff without warning. and covid infections rise in the uk — on average, one in 20 people are now believed to have the virus. coming up on the bbc news channel, the final day of cheltenham festival gets under way, with all sights set on the prestigious gold cup trophy.

good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. russian forces have carried out an air strike near ukraine's western city of lviv. a large plume of smoke was seen coming from an aircraft maintenance facility on the outskirts of the city. lviv�*s mayor said no casualties had been reported. lviv is about a0 miles from the polish border, well away from the main battle zones in the east and south of the country. fighting has also intensified in the besieged port city of mariupol, with russia's defence ministry saying its separatist allies are "tightening a noose" around the city with the help of moscow's forces. the ukrainian authorities say 130 people have so far been rescued from the basement of a theatre which was hit by an air strike in mariupol. 0ur kyiv correspondent, james waterhouse, sent this report.

the closest this war has got to the western city of lviv — four miles towards the airport, an aircraft repair plant had been hit, with missiles launched from the black sea. translation: the enemy's strike against lviv is further proof that they don't strike it strips, they fight people, children, women, refugees. nothing is sacred for them. in kyiv, russia's advance is being frustrated by ukrainian resistance. "take revenge for peaceful cities", this poster reads. 0ne soldier helps himself to ammunition dropped by invading troops. it is left to the likes of this man to pick up the pieces. translation: m arents to pick up the pieces. translation: my parents got _ to pick up the pieces. translation: my parents got this _ to pick up the pieces. translation: my parents got this flat _ to pick up the pieces. translation: my parents got this flat when - to pick up the pieces. translation: my parents got this flat when i - to pick up the pieces. translation: my parents got this flat when i was i my parents got this flat when i was three years old in 1964. i celebrated my third birthday here. i lived all my life here, all my life.

i got married here. my two children were born here. yet they haven't been able to surround kyiv like other cities, but its residents are far from safe. it's another morning when a residential block been hit by fragments from an intercepted missile. in the southern port city of mariupol, almost every building's been damaged from relentless shelling. military experts think the city could fall within weeks. rescue teams are still trying to get to people trapped in a theatre bombed earlier this week while more than 1,000 sheltered inside. looks like the bomb shelters were not damaged, but people can't get out from their because we cannot get through the rubble and it is very dangerous. volodymyr zelensky and vladimir putin say they're both willing to sit with each other and negotiate peace. for many ukrainians, the idea of making concessions to this conflict's aggressor

in chief is not a popular one. they've already paid a high cost. in rivne in the west, five soldiers are laid to rest, the pain ingrained on the faces of those they leave behind. james waterhouse, bbc news, in kyiv. 0ur chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, is in kyiv. lyse, what are you hearing about the possibility that some people have been cut out of the theatre that was

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that the west is to blame. this is all about what they see as washington's determination to control the world, and for moscow's veteran diplomat, to keep russia down. i veteran diplomat, to keep russia down. ~ . , , down. i think what we witness in ukraine is _ down. i think what we witness in ukraine is the _ down. i think what we witness in ukraine is the quintessence - down. i think what we witness in ukraine is the quintessence of i down. i think what we witness in | ukraine is the quintessence of the western strategic course, to marginalise russia, to contain russia, to stop russia's development and to reduce russia to a zero role.

in moscow's luzhniki stadium today, a huge display of russian national pride, an event to mark eight years since the annexation of crimea, vladimir putin's first move to carve out pieces of ukraine. a russian member of parliament denounces alleged fascism in ukraine. for all the scattered anti—war protests around russia, vladimir putin can still count on plenty of fervent support. paul adams, bbc news. 0ur washington correspondent nomia iqbaljoins me — what more can you tell us about the call? well, america wants to convey this message to china, which is essentially, pick a side. as far as the us is concerned, china is trying to have it both ways. 0n the one hand,it to have it both ways. 0n the one hand, it is saying, as we saw in that report by paul, that it backs

russia, but on the other side, they are saying, we recognise that ukraine as a independent country. president biden wants china to full on the left side and condemned the invasion. this is the first time president biden and china's president xijinping president biden and china's president xi jinping will be talking since the invasion began. the us sees china as probably the only country right now that could potentially influence vladimir putin in a different direction. but it's going to be a tough conversation, because the us also believes that china is trying to help russia with its economy and with its military. i should point out that america has no evidence, or hasn't shown any evidence, or hasn't shown any evidence to back that claim, and china has denied it. but president biden says it is true and he is planning to say to president xi jinping that if you cross that line, there will be consequences to pay. it is worth bearing in mind that overall, america has always been deeply anxious about china was that

it sees china as a competitor, this autocratic country threatening the long—term security of democracies like america. so that will come up in the phone call. also, he is worried about this alliance between xi jinping worried about this alliance between xijinping and vladimir putin, something that both men have described as having no limits. in this phone call today, president biden will be testing to see if that's true. biden will be testing to see if that's true-— of the 3 million ukrainians who have fled the russian invasion so far, more than 2 million have crossed the border into poland — and many of them are children. 65,000 have already been enrolled in polish schools, with more on the way. special classes are giving ukrainian children an introduction to the polish language. 0ur correspondent dan johnson is in krakow. yes, this is where ukrainian families are registering so that they can receive benefits so that

they can receive benefits so that they will have the right to live and work. but it is the faces of ukrainian children that have told some of the saddest stories of this refugee crisis. but it is also their strength of spirit which brings much of the hope. we know now that of those 2 million refugees that have crossed into poland, 700,000 are children. there's little sign artem started here only a fortnight ago. and victoria just last week. now they learn in a different language, get used to a new school, and try to make friends — all despite the added weight of running from war and being cut off from family. translation: i've lost my friends. they were scattered around the world. some of them are in poland, in different cities. some are in georgia, some in slovakia, in germany. but we communicate through apps. we are in touch.

artem's concern is for his mum, who's here helping the school translate. translation: i worry so much - about my relatives, about my mother, because they are so stressed. they were not ready to move from ukraine and leave their house, but the situation is like this and we have to get used to it. this is life. not every refugee kid has this chance yet by any stretch. space in the classrooms is a real constraint, and the language barrier is a serious difficulty. and every day, more ukrainian children arrive. hundreds of thousands are already here. across town, there's space for mums to work and toddlers to play. like so many, kristina's on her own with her three—year—old. she's growing up, she's becoming stronger, and...

i hope she won't remember why it was that i'm trying to give it to her like an adventure, that we are on holiday and we are visiting friends, and we are just...travelling. but... now, more and more, when she asks to go back to daddy, and... ijust, i cannot explain to her why we cannot do that at the moment, i cannot find the right words why it's not possible. singing. children on the move sing happy birthday in many languages. krystyna hasjoined herfriend sofia and her three daughters to celebrate one of them turning seven. translation: the children are fine when mum is fine. | so, are you fine? so—so!

translation: i have no way out - i have three children. _ i am here alone. i have to pull myself together and do what i can do. young lives are being shaped and milestones marked, away from home and without family. this girl's birthday wish — to be with her dad. donjohnson, bbc news, krakow, poland. ukranian refugees who want to come to the uk can, from today, apply for visas to be sponsored by british families. more than 150,000 people in britain have registered for the scheme, offering a room in their home or property. our special correspondent lucy manning has been to meet one family in kent who are making preparations. so we'll know how quickly the visa application process will take... they are making plans in the middle of war. how do you feel about coming here? last week they had never even spoken — next week,

they will be sharing a house. i think it will be a good experience for me, and now i can continue to work with a ukrainian company online when i have a suitable computer. thank you for helping ukrainian people and support. you are very welcome, 0lga. we will speak to you soon. you take care today. so we are going to have to paint the room... - graham, his wife melina and two children are opening up their kent home to 0lga, who works in video games, from kyiv, and nastja, an estate agent, and her mum, vita. one of the rooms is my office, my work from home space, if you like — which we are going to be redecorating. british families opening up rooms and hearts to those desperate enough to plead for strangers in a foreign

country to take them in. fear�*s recalibrated when you've escaped russian shelling. what was it that made you decide that you wanted to have refugees come and stay at your house? ijust, i think... it's just impacted us quite a lot, and you can't stand by and watch something like this happen. it's a humanitarian crisis, isn't it? and i think a part of it may be feels like we are standing up to huge bully. i just don't think we can stand by and just let it happen without doing something. and what impact do you think it's going to have on you and your family, day—to—day? i don't think it will be a detrimental one. i think also it will probably demonstrate to our daughter, you know, kind of compassion, sympathy and empathy, which is not a bad thing. the system to bring ukrainian refugees into british people's homes has been simplified. now they'll have to go on the home office website, fill in their details, their sponsor's details, and provide a passport photo. problems? well, the checks on those people they are staying with are going to be basic, and it is still a diy refugee system — you still have

to find your own matches at the moment. and how did you go about trying to find ukrainians to help? it has been really difficult, actually, and i think there's a lot of frustrated brits out there. i think there's an expectation you fill in a government website form and you kind of get in touch with someone straightaway. you have to proactively go out and look for people. come on, little babies! their ukrainian guests will swap the hell of war and the pain of departure for the quiet of the countryside. but thousands more want to help — millions need it, but will this scheme manage to connect them? lucy manning, bbc news. the time is 19 minutes past one. our top story this lunchtime: ukrainian officials say hundred and 30 people have been rescued from the rubble of the bombed theatre in mariupol. hundreds, though, are still said to be trapped inside.

and could supersized heat pumps help us move away from needing russian gas? later in the bbc news channel... demonstrations are taking place in dover, hull and liverpool after the ferry company p&0 announced it was sacking 800 employees without any notice and replacing them with cheaper agency workers. the government says said it will review its contracts with p&0 ferries. the firm said its action were necessary to secure the future of the company. here's our business correspondent theo leggett. comrades, brothers and sisters... angry workers in hull today protesting against p&0 ferries. the

demonstrations are expected in dover, liverpooland demonstrations are expected in dover, liverpool and larne. demonstrations are expected in dover, liverpooland larne. until yesterday, many of these people had jobs working aboard the company's vessels. now they are unemployed. 800 staff were abruptly laid off, theirjob is taken by agency workers as part of a cost—cutting drive. p&0 ferries is not the first company to try to save money by firing staff or changing their contracts, and it certainly won't be the last. but what is different here is the way that it's gone about it. staff were given no notice, there was no consultation, they were fired on the spot, and that's causing a huge amount of bitterness and anger. p&0 insists it had no choice, it says it lost huge sums during the pandemic and without major changes could not run a viable business. the ferry operator is a subsidiary of dp world, a multinational company based in dubai, which generates billions in dubai, which generates billions in revenues every year. pm}

in dubai, which generates billions in revenues every year.— in dubai, which generates billions in revenues every year. p&o is a 200 ear in revenues every year. p&o is a 200 year shipping — in revenues every year. p&o is a 200 year shipping company. _ in revenues every year. p&o is a 200 year shipping company, they - in revenues every year. p&o is a 200 year shipping company, they can - in revenues every year. p&o is a 200 year shipping company, they can ridej year shipping company, they can ride out this storm. everyone is a troubling covid, now at the point of recovery they are trying to make our members pick up the tab for the covid crisis. we are not prepared do that. , , ~ , covid crisis. we are not prepared do that. , , . , , ., covid crisis. we are not prepared do that. ,,, that. these pictures show security staff boarding _ that. these pictures show security staff boarding a _ that. these pictures show security staff boarding a boat _ that. these pictures show security staff boarding a boat in _ that. these pictures show security staff boarding a boat in liverpool. staff boarding a boat in liverpool yesterday to remove the old crew. 0ne worker described how he was removed from a vessel. one worker described how he was removed from a vessel. the way i got dealt with. i was escorted personally from the bridge of the _ escorted personally from the bridge of the ship to my cabin, this is my home: _ of the ship to my cabin, this is my home, i_ of the ship to my cabin, this is my home, iwark— of the ship to my cabin, this is my home, i work and live on that ship, it's my— home, i work and live on that ship, it's my home — home, i work and live on that ship, it's my home and i did point this out to— it's my home and i did point this out to the — it's my home and i did point this out to the bailiff, this is my house. _ out to the bailiff, this is my house, this is where i live. the company _ house, this is where i live. the company has — house, this is where i live. the company has been _ house, this is where i live. tia: company has been accused house, this is where i live. tue: company has been accused of house, this is where i live. tu2 company has been accused of acting ruthlessly, but the question being asked today is whether it acted legally. asked today is whether it acted le . all . ., asked today is whether it acted leuall. ., �* , _ asked today is whether it acted leuall. ., �*, _ legally. you can't simply replace employees _ legally. you can't simply replace employees with _ legally. you can't simply replace employees with other, - legally. you can't simply replace employees with other, cheaperl employees with other, cheaper labour. the existing employees have rights. technically they should transform to the provider and that is something p&0 and the new

provider should have consulted with. if the employees were dismissed simply to allow p&0 to bring in this cheaper labour, it may well be that they have claims for automatic unfair dismissal.— unfair dismissal. today the transport _ unfair dismissal. today the transport secretary - unfair dismissal. today the transport secretary joins . unfair dismissal. today the - transport secretary joins those condemning p&0's actions. 50 transport secretary joins those condemning p&o's actions. so nowl want to take — condemning p&o's actions. so nowl want to take the _ condemning p&o's actions. so nowl want to take the opportunity - condemning p&o's actions. so nowl want to take the opportunity to - condemning p&o's actions. so nowl want to take the opportunity to put i want to take the opportunity to put on record _ want to take the opportunity to put on record my shock and my dismay at the insensitive and brutal treatment of its employees yesterday. sacked! sacked _ of its employees yesterday. sacked! sacked via _ of its employees yesterday. sacked! sacked via a pre—recorded zoom video. _ sacked via a pre—recorded zoom video. with _ sacked via a pre—recorded zoom video, withjust 30 minutes notice. no way— video, withjust 30 minutes notice. no way to— video, withjust 30 minutes notice. no way to treat employees in the zist no way to treat employees in the 21st century. no way to treat employees in the 21st century-— 21st century. today, many of the company's _ 21st century. today, many of the company's ferries _ 21st century. today, many of the company's ferries are _ 21st century. today, many of the company's ferries are not - 21st century. today, many of the i company's ferries are not operating as their new crews have to be trained up. serious disruption is expected to last for several days, while former workers can only watch in frustration. theo leggett, bbc news. duncan kennedy is in doverfor us. tell us what's going on there.

we think we've had about two or 300, possibly 400 protesters take part in a demonstration here. they walked a quarter of a mile or so from the union office to hear, the port entry, where they held some speeches, included among them we had teachers, firefighters, nurses, and of course some p&0 workers. there was one chap i spoke to who had p&0 for more than 30 years, and he described what has happened as a betrayal. he also said it felt like a bereavement. now, both he and all those people taking part in the demonstration here has said that they believe what p&0 have done is illegal. they say the company has not consulted, there should have been at least 45 days of consultation, the government should have been told, and they say none of that has taken place. we've already heard from p and 0, they say the company was in trouble, they lost

£100 million last year, and if they didn't take this drastic action than the future of the company itself would be injeopardy. the problem is, these protesters here today are a word and no doubt all across the company are saying that is not acceptable, you cannot in 2020 to go around sacking people over video conference calls, and what they are calling for is these jobs to be reinstated. calling for is these “obs to be reinstatedh calling for is these “obs to be reinstated. , ., ~ , ., covid—19 infections have risen in all uk nations except northern ireland. new figures from the office for national statistics suggest 1 in 20 people now have coronavirus. 0ur health correspondent james gallagher is here. so it's on the rise? absolutely, and we knew this _ so it's on the rise? absolutely, and we knew this already. _ so it's on the rise? absolutely, and we knew this already. if— so it's on the rise? absolutely, and we knew this already. if you - so it's on the rise? absolutely, and we knew this already. if you look i so it's on the rise? absolutely, andj we knew this already. if you look at what's happening in the daily test reports, the number of people in hospital with covid, all those figures have been going up. now the office for national statistics showing the same thing. if you look

at the graph you can see what's been happening through the course of the pandemic, really. idraw happening through the course of the pandemic, really. i draw your attention first to the highest point on the right—hand side, where it's over 4 million infections, that's over 4 million infections, that's overwinter, then we saw it coming down, it was tied in with easing restrictions, what we seem quite recently as this uptick, so despite it coming down to 2.5 million we are now at about 3.3 million people testing positive. if that's the big tide of covid infections, there are lots of little currents on that data. if you look at england, wales, scotland, it is up in those countries but may be plateauing and starting to fall in northern ireland, but there are still very high levels of infections, one in 14 people testing positive there. the other thing in the data, the over 70s now have the highest level of covid infection reported by the 0ns throughout the pandemic, since about 2020 in may it's the highest. so how worried should be be? this new flavour of a crown ba2, does factor

written but we also have to think about vaccines in the easing of reflections. the most vulnerable are about to get up booster as part of the spring campaign for the over 75 is. if you look at other countries, places like denmark, they had a sharp rise in ba2 which has now come back down, so i think the anticipation is it will do the same but we have to monitor the figures closely. the war in ukraine has triggered questions about where our energy comes from, as europe tries to reduce its dependency on russian gas. heat pumps are seen as one solution for our heating needs — and two supersized pumps are about to be switched on in london and newcastle. the hope is that they may provide a greener and cheaper source of warmth for homes and businesses. 0ur science editor rebecca morelle reports. preparing the ground for a brand—new heating system. in gateshead, a disused coal mine is providing an unexpected

green source of heat. this scheme is all about using natural heat. 150 metres beneath me is an old coal mine flooded with water, and it's being pumped up to the surface. but it's the heat of this water that's the key. this is the heart of the operation, a huge heat pump, and it takes the warmth from the mine water and through a series of mechanical processes boosts its temperature from 15 to 80 degrees and it's this heat that's then sent to homes and businesses. the old mine water is then sent back underground so the whole process can start again. coal mining was massive across the north—east and is also part of the cause of the problem we're in with climate change. so to take the asset that's still sitting underground and re—purpose it to get renewable heat, we're turning that negative asset into a positive future source of energy. there are other low—carbon district heating schemes here. these flats were connected about five years ago.

jacqueline doesn't have a boiler, she has a heat exchanger instead. my whole flat is much warmer than it used to be. now, with the pipes that run up the walls and along the skirtings, that helps to keep the heat there and it helps to heat the rooms, you know? 250 miles away in london, this drill is heading down to a reservoir of warm water below. three huge heat pumps have been installed. rather than having 1,000 homes to decarbonise, you have one central location to decarbonise. so you install a heat pump which benefits the equivalent of 1000 homes and you're decarbonising their supply of heating, which will help the net—zero girls we have in terms of the uk. —— net zero goals. schemes that use heat pumps instead of fossil fuels will also protect against the big price rises we're currently seeing. there's been a lot of talk about rising costs of gas lately, which is really causing a crisis

for the cost of living. and a good way to tackle that is to invest now in more renewable, sustainable and local heat sources. that would include things like ground source heating connected to district heating. low—carbon district heating works best in towns and cities. these schemes in gateshead and london are just the start. many more will be needed if the uk is going to meet its climate change targets. rebecca morelle, bbc news, gateshead. one of the highlights of the racing calendar, the cheltenham gold cup, takes place this afternoon — with rachael blackmore hoping to make history by becoming the first female jockey to win the race. 0ur sports correspondent andy swiss is at cheltenham. yes, welcome to cheltenham where the early morning fog has cleared and we have glorious sunshine for the